3.9.6 Practice Questions Troubleshooting Memory

Which of the following is an error detection technique that can also correct the error?

ECC Explanation Error Correcting Code (ECC) can detect and correct errors. Parity error detection techniques can detect errors but cannot correct them. The data must be resent. EDO is not a type of error detection., it is a type of memory that can start a new access cycle while keeping the data output of the previous cycle active.

Which of the following is an error detection technique that can detect errors with only one bit?

Parity Explanation Parity error detection can only detect errors with only one bit. EDO is not a type of error correction, it is a type of memory that can start a new access cycle while keeping the data output of the previous cycle active.

Explanation

At these critical times memory problems can manifest themselves: First boot of a new computer- memory is not properly seated, missing, or the motherboard is defective. After a memory upgrade-ensure that the memory is compatible and was installed and configured properly. After software installation-new software can require more memory and can cause problems if there is not enough memory for the software. After hardware installation or removal-incompletely or improperly installed hardware can cause errors that appear to be memory related.

You just replaced the motherboard in your computer. Now your computer will not start. You press the power button on the system case, but nothing happens; there are no sounds or lights. What should you do?

Connect the power button to the motherboard. Explanation The system case power button connects to jumper pins on the motherboard, When you press the power button, the cable sends the power on signal to the computer. If the power button was connected, you would typically hear fans start up and see lights come on as the system boots. Even without a processor fan, memory, or a keyboard or mouse you still see or hear something if the system had power.

You are attempting to boot a new system. The boot fails and the system sounds a beep code. Which of the following describes the most likely cause of this error?

Either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected. If the system boot fails and sounds a beep code, the most likely cause is that either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected. If a card or memory module is not seated, or the system includes unsupported memory, the system will boots, but the display will remain blank. If POST fails to recognize all of the memory, the system will boot, but the memory count will be incorrect.

Memory is not properly seated, missing, or the motherboard is defective.

First boot of a new computer.

Which type of software-generated problems can indicate that a software bug is causing a memory error?

General- protection fault. Exception error. Page fault. Explanation Software-generated memory problems include the following: Exception error General-protection fault. Page fault. Registry errors indicate that parts of the registry are written to faulty sections of RAM. Parity interrupt usually indication a falling module or discrepancies between new and old memory. An incorrect memory count can happen with incompatible memory installation; remember to avoid combining dual-bank with single-bank memory.

Incompletely or improperly doing this can cause errors that appear to be memory related.

Hardware installation or removal.

You have installed a new computer with a quad-core 64-processor 6 GB of memory, and a PCIe video card with 512 MB of memory. After installing the operating system, you see less than 4 GB of memory showing as available in Windows. What should you do?

Install a 64-bit version of the operating system. Explanation In this scenario, the most likely cause is the operating system being a 32-bit operating system. You must use a 64-bit operating system to use memory above 4 GB. The AGP aperture is a method for sharing system memory with an AGP (not PCIe) video card. With shared memory, some of the memory is used by the video card and is not available for the system.You do not update memory controller drivers.

You are in the process of configuring a new computer. The motherboard has six memory slots and supports triple-channel memory. You install two memory modules. When you boot the computer, the BIOS recognizes both modules, but the memory only runs in dual-channel mode. What should you do?

Install a third, identical memory module. Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots. Explanation To use triple-channel memory, you will need to install 3 or 6 memory modules in the correct slots. Depending on the motherboard, the slots might be next to each other, or alternating. Consult the motherboard documentation for the correct configurarion. Triple-channel support is mainly a function of the motherboard (i.e. the memory controller), not the memory itself. Continuity modules are used with Rambus RAM; if continuity modules were required on this system, none of the memory would have been detected, The CAS latency is used for memory timing. You might modify the timing if the system is unstable at the current memory timing settings.

After installing two memory modules, you power on the system to check for errors. You find that the BIOS program recognizes only one of the memory modules. What should you do first?

Make sure that both modules are seated properly in their slots. Explanation In this case, you should check to ensure that you installed the memory correctly. Most BIOS programs include a memory count that displays the total amount of system memory. If it does not count the proper amount of memory, begin by checking to make sure the memory is inserted correctly. After the memory is installed correctly, if it is still not recognized, try removing one module to identify which module has the problem. Move the modules to different motherboard slots to see if you can get the system to detect the memory. In most cases, you will not need to change the memory timings. When you do, it is typically because the system is unstable or crashes. Testing memory helps you identify when specific memory storage locations are going bad. Device Manager will not enable memory not recognized by the BIOS.

You have just a built a new system from scratch. You turn the computer on but the system boot fails and sounds a beep code. What might be the issue?

Memory not installed or not detected. Explanation If memory was not installed in the new computer or was not detected during boot up, system boot will fail and sound a beep code. If unsupported memory was installed, the system will boot but the display will be blank. If incompatible memory was installed, such as combining dual-bank with single-bank memory, the system will boot but the memory count will be incorrect. If a mix of new and old memory was used, the system will boot but will display a memory error message.

The memory is not compatible and was not installed and configured properly.

Memory upgrade

You are in the process of configuring a new computer. The motherboard has four memory slots and supports dual-channel memory. You install two memory modules. When you boot the computer, the BIOS recognizes both modules, but the memory is not configured to run in dual-channel mode. What should you do?

Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots. Explanation To use dual-channel memory, you will need to install memory in the correct slots. Depending on the motherboard, the two slots might be next to each other, or alternating. Consult the motherboard documentation for the correct configuration. Dual- channel support is mainly a function of the motherboard (e.g., the memory controller), not the memory itself. Continuity modules are used with Rambus RAM; if continuity modules were required on this system, non of the memory would have been detected. The CAS latency is used for memory timing. You might modify the timing if the system is unstable at the current memory timing settings.

This can require more memory and can cause problems if there is not enough memory at this time.

Software installation